International | Middle Eastern dynasties

Like father, like son

Monarchies, hereditary dictatorships and family nepotism in the Middle East

May 31st 2001|cairo

OMRI SHARON is just like his dad: big, blunt and controversial. His political emergence, first as a trusted adviser to Israel's prime minister, and lately as a backdoor conduit to Yasser Arafat, smacks to Israelis of creeping nepotism. Arabs wonder at such anxiety. With rare exceptions, their own nepotism is way past the creeping stage. The sons and other relations of rulers—whether kings, emirs or republican presidents—pack the corridors of power.

This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Like father, like son”